In the night's first fight, Joe Proctor and Jordan Rinaldi traded strikes on the outside to open. It was Proctor who thought takedown in the opening seconds but backed away. Rinaldi was content to strike from the outside, where he was generally the busier fighter. But just as things looked to be going his way, it all turned bad.

Proctor caught a Rinaldi kick, shoved him to the floor and worked directly into a guillotine choke from the top. Proctor didn't bother to settle all the way to the floor, cranking from a standing position and eventually earning a tapout and a $5,000 bonus.

Submission stylists Jared Caristen and Cristiano Marcello started by throwing heavy punches and kicks on the feet before Marcelo worked into a clinch, secured underhooks and brought the fight to the floor in the opening minute. Marcello quickly settled into full mount and worked to posture and throw punches and elbows from the top.

Caristen did a decent job underneath until he rolled to his belly and exposed his neck. With his opponent completely trapped, Marcello didn't need much more of an invitation, latching on to a rear-naked choke and earning the tap.

Sam Sicilia wasted little time in securing his spot in the house, landing a brutal overhand right just seconds into his fight with Erin Beach. Beach collapsed to the floor, but referee Josh Rosenthal rushed in to pull Sicilia off before he could do any more damage.

Sam Sicilia def. Erin Beach via knockout (punch) - Round 1, 0:08

AUSTIN LYONS VS. CHRIS TICKLE

Chris Tickle came out throwing heavy leather against Austin Lyons and punctuating every shot with verbal yells. Lyons tried to stand in the pocket and return fire, but Tickle unleashed a rapid-fire combo that saw Lyons slump to the canvas. Lyons struggled to defend himself, but Tickle pounced for the finish and referee Steve Mazzagatti called a halt to the fight.

Chris Tickle def. Austin Lyons via knockout (punches) - Round 1, 0:24

ANDY OGLE VS. BRENDAN WEAFER

Andy Ogle took the center of the cage early and stalked Brendan Weafer before clinching and tripping him to the floor. Ogle walked his opponent to the cage before Weafer began to bring his legs high and threaten with a triangle choke. Ogle freed his left arm and punched from the top position, but Weafer kept his choke attempt in place.

As the round wore on, Weafer continued to wrench his legs in hopes of securing the choke, but the finish wouldn't come. Weafer finally broke the hold in the final minute, and referee Josh Rosenthal brought them to their feet. Ogle, who may have been ahead anyway with top position, brought the fight back to the floor and latched on to a guillotine choke that he held until the final bell, easily securing his passage into the house.

Cody Pfister opened his fight with Vinc Pichel as the aggressor, rushing in and bringing the fight to the floor in the early going. The two then went back and forth trying to attack each other's arms, but Pichel used the scramble to work to top position. Pfister then scrambled up to his feet, absorbing a big knee before scoring another takedown.

Pichel then returned the favor, working up to his feet before Pfister jumped up and tried to take the back of his opponent while standing. Instead, Pichel slammed him to the floor and went to work with ground-and-pound. Pfister suffered a gash on his forehead, but Pichel went for the finish over more blood, securing the back and sinking in a rear-naked choke. Pfister briefly struggled to escape, but he had no choice but to tap.

Mark Glover took the center of the cage in the opening seconds of his bout with John Cofer, flashing out a few snapping kicks before his opponent closed the distance. Cofer looked for a takedown in the clinch, failing on the first attempt but quickly securing one moments later.

Cofer continued to rely on the takedown. Glover did a good job of scrambling back to his feet each time, though he was slammed powerfully to the floor on one occasion. Glover did show flashes of dangerous striking on the feet, mixing in knees in every available opening.

As the round wore on, Glover willingly went to the floor as he looked for a guillotine choke, but he didn't net the finish. Glover worked to his feet yet again, but Cofer continued with his takedown-based attack and brought the fight down to the floor again. At the end of the round, judges leaned toward Cofer based on his wrestling attack.

John Cofer def. Mark Glover via unanimous decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9)

CHASE HACKETT VS. CHRIS SAUNDERS

Chase Hackett and Chris Saunders went tooth and nail in a scrappy affair that went the full five minutes. As high kicks were traded in the early going, Saunders hit the deck and Hackett pounced. But Saunders alertly scrambled out and secured a guillotine choke, falling into guard to finish. Hackett was wheezing from the choke, but he survived, and the two scrambled back to the feet.

On the restart, Saunders landed a big right hand before Hackett pressed inside. However, Hackett couldn't get the fight to the floor, and he struggled to gain any offense in the clinch. Saunders looked to briefly slow but scored with several crisp combinations when encouraged by his corner. Hackett was resilient in his attack, but Saunders again worked to a guillotine choke. Hackett broke free and postured to finish, but he ran out of time.

In the end, judges leaned toward Saunders.

Chris Saunders def. Chase Hackett via decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9)

DAKOTA COCHRANE VS. JAMES VICK

Dakota Cochrane and James Vick engaged in a wrestling-heavy affair, and Cochrane pressed in almost immediately, wrapping the body and looking for a takedown. Vick defended well, securing underhooks and nearly scoring a slick trip of his own. The fight stalled out briefly as Vick controlled from a front headlock position and looked to sink in a choke. It wasn't there, and Cochrane climbed back to his feet. Cochrane continued to search for the takedown, but Vick utilized a slick whizzer and stayed upright.

The two traded shots a bit on the inside, but there wasn't much action, and they were restarted in the final minute. Cochrane looked to land a homerun punch that wouldn't come. He did scramble to top position, but it was too little, too late, and Vick earned the split nod.

James Vick def. Dakota Cohrane via split decision (9-10, 10-9, 10-9)

MICHAEL CHIESA VS. JOHNAVAN VISTANTE

Michael Chiesa looked impressive in a stoppage win over Johnavan Vistante, controlling the action from the opening bell. Chiesa dove in for an immediate takedown, fighting off a guillotine choke and settling on top. As Vistante tried to work up, Chiesa locked in a hook and transitioned to the back. Vistante tried to wiggle free, but Chiesa was firmly in place and delivering punches at every available opportunity.

With Vistante trapped and absorbing damage, Chiesa went to the rear-naked choke, and Vistante had to tap.

Ali Maclean and Mike Rio looked like they were going to slug it out on the feet, but the fight would eventually end up on the floor. Both fighters traded hands in the early going, neither willing to back down in the pocket. Both fighters had moments landing heavy shots, but neither appealed wobbled. After feeling a bit of the standup, Rio dropped down and scored a perfectly timed double-leg takedown, falling into half-mount. Maclean tried to crawl to his knees, but Rio picked his ankle to keep him down and then tossed him to the floor with an impressive slam.

Once on the floor, Rio transitioned to the back and looked for the choke. Maclean showed impressive durability and tried to turn in, but Rio reset to the back, locking in a body triangle and earning a rear-naked choke.

Krause stalked from the center, but it was Lawrence who fired off punches at will in the early going. Lawrence pressed the action and unloaded when the fight hit the floor in a scramble. Massive shots came from the top, and though Krause was able to work back to his feet, it was obvious he was on shaky legs.

Lawrence continued to press, firing off a spinning heel kick before running forward with more powerful punches. Krause wilted under the pressure, and Lawrence pounded away until he was awarded the quick and impressive TKO win.

Justin Lawrence def. James Krause via TKO (punches) - Round 1, 1:25

DARON CRUICKSHANK VS. DREW DOBER

Daron Cruickshank delivered one of the most impressive striking attacks of the night, unloading on an unsuspecting Drew Dober, who somehow refused to go down without a fight. Cruickshank opened with a few flashy kicks before unloading on a crisp series of rapid-fire punches and stunning high kick before ducking down and delivering a powerful slam. Dober somehow recovered from the onslaught and worked to guard before the two returned to their feet.

Dober shot in and scored a takedown, but Cruickshank worked quickly to his feet and pressed his opponent against the cage. Neither fighter could really capitalize on the position, and they broke apart and looked to strike to the finish. Unfortunately, a low blow caused a brief stoppage, but Cruickshank went back to work on the restart, driving in for a takedown and a choke attempt to close.

At the end of five minutes, Cruickshank earned the clear nod.

Daron Cruickshank def. Drew Dober via decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9)

JEREMY LARSEN VS. JEFF SMITH

Jeremy Larsen and Jeff Smith battled back-and-forth for five minutes, and while Smith started strong, it was Larsen who finished stronger. Smith started quickly, rattling off hands and moving into a clinch before securing a trip. Larsen climbed back to his feet, but Smith was there to deposit him immediately back on the floor.

Larsen then earned his own takedown, but he was forced to defend an armbar once there. He pulled free, but Smith hit a sweep and moved to the top before backing away. Larsen again shot in for a takedown but fell into a kneebar. It looked close for a moment, but Larsen pulled free and stacked up to side control. Larsen drove several knees and elbows to the body, controlling the final two minutes and giving the judges something to consider.

In the end, they sided with the late control from Larsen, awarding him a unanimous decision.

Jon Tuck looked sharp early in the evening's penultimate fight, but a gritty Al Iaquinta survived the early storm and worked for a decision win. Tuck kicked the body and when Iaquinta caught the blow, he looked for a flying triangle. It wasn't there, but Tuck remained dangerous from his back threatening for an armbar. Iaquinta shook free, but an alert Tuck moved quickly on to his back. Iaquinta shook free again, and Tuck went to work on the outside.

Iaquinta looked dangerous on the restart, landing with big punches from the inside and moving in a few slapping low kicks. Tuck seemed to lost his rhythm thanks to a broken toe, though he did use long kicks to keep his opponent away. Iaquinta shot in at the start of the final minute, and he alertly avoided Tuck's dangerous hips and legs while riding out the clock and working in right hands. Tuck continued to look for options from his back until the final bell, but he came up short.

Al Iaquinta def. Jon Tuck via decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9)

AKBARH ARREOLA VS. MYLES JURY

Jury slipped on an early kick but wisely ducked under his opponent and scored a takedown, pulling out of a guillotine and setting up in top position. Arreola patiently worked his hips out for an armbar, but he couldn't secure the limb. With the action at a stalemate, referee Steve Mazzagatti stood the pair, and Jury again drove in for a takedown.

Jury wasn't able to do a ton of damage from the top, but he controlled the positioning until another Mazzagatti restart. Arreola again kicked to open, where he was too happy to fall to his back and let Jury establish the dominant position. Areola looked for options underneath, but he wasn't nearly dominant enough to earn the judges' favor.

Going with Marcello. Dude should not be fighting in here...he should have already gotten a contract. He was Wanderlei and Shogun's trainer yo. Dude is a fourth degree black belt under Royler and Rickson Gracie!

Second pick would be JLAW...lolz!

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Marcus Aurelius: Tell me again, Maximus, why are we here?
Maximus: For the glory of the Empire, sire.

I bet on Lawrence too guys... and Jury and Cruickshank and Marcello. Heh, you can bet on more than one so why not. And it's going to stay open through the season since we don't have to worry about results leaking out this time.

I put bets on four guys. 1,000 points on Chiesa, 1,000 points on Marcello, 1,000 points on Lawrence, and 4,000 points on Jury. Kind of defeats the purpose and they're not exactly a lot of points either, but hey.. If you can get away with it, why not? I'll be losing points either way if Jury loses, but oh well. I find it hard to imagine that I'd get all 4 wrong. I see one of these guys winning.

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Psalm 30:5 "For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

I changed Cruickshank's odds to 500 to 1 since he is out. He was one of the favs too, had a few votes compared to none for the guy who ko'd him. I guess he could come back since they don't have auto medical suspensions, if you wanted to bet on that longshot feel free.

Quote:

Round 1 - Referee Herb Dean starts the action. Cruickshank does a good job of moving in and out in the early going while Vick looks to work from the center of the cage. Vick looks a little tentative, but Cruickshank isn't exactly cashing in during the early going. The pace picks up as the round wears on, and a confident Cruickshank looks to shoot in. Unfortunately, he walks right into a huge right knee, and he's out cold. Incredible finish, and the gym goes crazy.